Charity of the week

(Getty)

As public school budgets shrink and districts cut back on arts programs, P.S. ARTS (psarts.org) has stepped up to fill the void in California. The charity provides classes in dance, music, theater, and fine arts in Los Angeles and surrounding cities, offering a weekly class to every student in each of its 57 partner schools. In addition, P.S. ARTS runs a free after-school program for underserved middle and high schoolers that’s designed to give youths a creative outlet for their free time. It also hosts community events such as family art nights and art festivals, and gives its educators extensive training and professional development. Each week, P.S. ARTS serves more than 25,000 students.

Each charity we feature has earned a four-star overall rating from Charity Navigator, which rates not-for-profit organizations on the strength of their finances, their governance practices, and the transparency of their operations. Four stars is the group’s highest rating. ■